Egyptian Reaction On Russian Crash Triggers Suspicion n Speculation

Egypt's state television had no mention of the crash, investigation or the news conference in Cairo that would later reveal that a mid-air explosion downed the passenger jet.

According to report instead a 'Visit Egypt' documentary was played on a loop.

There was no reference to the crash on the state website, in any of the 16 stories posted. In fact, the only mention of Sharm was an article about an upcoming arts festival.

When there was finally a correspondent on TV talking about the situation in Sharm, he reported regular flights in and out of the airport and that tourists he spoke to were happy.

In the past seven days state and local media have gone from ignoring the story to reporting everything is fine, to showing things are not fine - but that's only because foreign countries and their media are trying to ruin Egypt.

Officials have become increasingly defensive with journalists, restricting access to Sharm airport.

When asked why, we were only told it was because the foreign media were portraying a negative image of the country, showing pictures, for example, of passengers on the floor waiting for their flights. 

This reaction by the Egyptian state has only fuelled more speculation and damaged both the country's reputation and economy more than it had to be.

It was, in fact, the information blackout by the Egyptian government and its media in the days after the crash that led the foreign press to push harder trying to find out what was being hidden.